QC court resets De Lima disobedience case trial to June 9

MANILA, April 26 -- The Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court reset the hearing for June 9 on the disobedience to summons case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against detained Senator Leila M. De Lima.

This was bared by De Lima’s counsel Fhilip Sawali on Wednesday.

De Lima is facing a case for violation of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code for disobedience to summons issued by the national assembly, its committee or subcommittees.

Complainants are House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Farinas and House Committee on Justice Chairman Reynaldo Umali.

"The hearing scheduled today is cancelled, per ruling of Judge Lim last Friday. Judge will resolve first the motion for reconsideration filed by [De Lima]," Sawali said in text message sent to reporters.

He added the court could also not proceed with the hearing as the prosecution cannot present a witness.

"DOJ is dispensing with Speaker [Pantaleon D.] Alvarez' testimony, and the 2nd witness [Oriental Mindoro Representative Reynaldo V.] Umali will only be available on June 9, which will be the next hearing," he noted.

Last March 13, De Lima refused to enter a plea before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court on allegations of ignoring summons from Congress and stopping her former driver/boyfriend Ronnie from attending the House inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The court entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the senator.

De Lima's arraignment pushed through after the court denied her motion for reconsideration on the finding of probable cause for being filed out of time.

The court then proceeded with the preliminary conference where De Lima's camp refused to stipulate on the copy of De Lima's supposed text message to Hanna Mae, daughter of Ronnie Dayan because it was not authenticated.

De Lima allegedly texted Dayan's daughter to tell her father not to attend at the Congressional inquiry on the proliferation of illegal drugs inside Bilibid.

De Lima and Dayan had both admitted that they were previously in a relationship. De Lima said it lasted for several years, while Dayan said they were together for seven years.

The prosecution has submitted an amended information on the case to change its wordings from "advising" Dayan not to attend the hearing to "instructing" Dayan in the amended complaint.

Among the evidence provisionally marked by the prosecution include the House of Representative's subpoena, show cause order, order of contempt and the photocopy of De Lima's supposed sms to Dayan's daughter.

Alvarez is the prosecution's first witness against De Lima.

Aside from Alvarez, Fariñas and Umali are also expected to testify. The DOJ said they also have six other witnesses to testify against the Senator.

On the other hand, De Lima's camp has marked as evidence the House of Representative's subpoena, counter affidavit and transcript of stenographic notes of the Congressional hearing. They have no other witness except De Lima.

Violation of Article 150 has a penalty of arresto mayor or one month and one day up to six months of imprisonment or a fine ranging from PHP200 to PHP1,000 or both (fine and imprisonment).

De Lima was required by Judge Pio-Lim to appear in every court hearing.

De Lima, now detained at the PNP custodial center, argued that the allegations against her do not actually constitute sale and trading of illegal drugs and liability of government officials under Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), but rather only direct bribery.

Separate cases for three counts of drug trafficking were filed against De Lima before the Muntinlupa RTC which were assigned to three different courts.